I finally got our crew to track sediment runoff after each job

So, after a chat with some environmental folks, I pushed our team to start logging how much sediment slips into nearby streams when we dredge. It's crazy to see where our containment booms keep failing, and now I'm stuck trying to figure out how to fix it. I've heard silt curtains might help, but I don't know which ones are worth the cash. What do you guys use to keep things tidy and follow the new rules without slowing us down too much?

3 comments

3 Comments

jenniferh471mo ago

Last spring, my cousin's farm used straw bales for soil erosion, but it was a messy fix.

tessawood1mo ago

What's the main spot where your booms keep failing? I've seen that happen a lot when the current is strong. It's frustrating when you're trying to follow the rules but stuff keeps breaking. Like last year, we had a boom tear after a storm and sediment got everywhere. Silt curtains can help, but you gotta get the heavy-duty ones for rough water. Keep at it with the tracking, it'll show you where to focus.

thomas_miller281mo ago

We had three failures at the north bend of the river last month alone. I used to think any silt curtain would do, but after seeing what @jenniferh47 mentioned about straw bales being a messy fix, it made me realize cheap solutions just move the problem. Now I'm convinced you need the tough, weighted curtains anchored way out past where you think the problem is. The tracking data proved the current undercuts the boom if it's too close to shore. Have you found a brand that holds up in those fast currents?